Make homemade sour cream with just 2 ingredients — a simple, old-fashioned staple that’s creamy, tangy, and easy to prepare.
How to Make Sour Cream
Homemade sour cream is one of those simple kitchen staples that feels like a nod to the way our parents and grandparents used to cook, when making things from scratch was just part of everyday life. With only two ingredients and a couple of minutes of prep, you can create a thick, silky sour cream that tastes fresher and creamier than anything from the store. It’s the kind of back-to-basics recipe that reminds you how easy homemade can be.
There’s something satisfying about stirring it together yourself, knowing exactly what’s in it and skipping the extra preservatives and additives. You can adjust the tang to your liking, make only what you need, and stretch your grocery budget a little further. Just like those old-fashioned kitchen habits we grew up with, it’s simple, practical, and proves that sometimes the best foods really are the ones you make at home.
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Ingredients
All you need to make this recipe are two ingredients:
- Heavy Cream
- White Vinegar (OR lemon juice)
(Full ingredient amounts and recipe directions are available in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.)
Helpful Kitchen Tools
Instructions
- Pour heavy cream into a sealable mason jar or food storage container.
- Gently stir in the vinegar, until fully incorporated with the cream.
- Cover and allow to sit at room temperature for 4 hours, until it starts to thicken.
- Stir well, put the lid back on the jar, and place in the fridge overnight to finish thickening.
Prep Tips:
- Yield – This recipe makes about 16 ounces
- Storage – Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Do not freeze. The sour cream will continue to thicken a bit more over time.
- Stirring – Make sure the vinegar is evenly mixed into all of the cream so it thickens properly. If not fully combined, the sour cream may stay a bit runny, though it will still taste great.
- For More Tangy Flavor – For a tangier flavor, swap in lemon juice or add a third tablespoon of vinegar.
Use Your Homemade Sour Cream In These Recipes:
- Jalapeño Dip
- Rainbow Jello Ribbon Salad
- Swiss Green Bean Casserole
- Olive Dip
- Creamy Dill Dip
- French Onion Dip
- Knorr Spinach Dip
- Creamy Grape Salad
Homemade Sour Cream Recipe (Printable Recipe Card)
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Homemade Sour Cream (2 Ingredients)
Equipment
- Mason Jar
- Re-sealable mason jar lid
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Heavy Cream
- 2 Tablespoons White Vinegar OR lemon juice
Instructions
- Pour heavy cream into a sealable mason jar or food storage container.
- Gently stir in the vinegar, until fully incorporated with the cream.
- Cover and allow to sit at room temperature for 4 hours, until the sour cream starts to thicken.
- Stir well, put the lid back on the jar, and place in the fridge overnight to finish thickening.
Notes
- Makes about 16 oz.
- Refrigerate up to 2 weeks; do not freeze. Thickens slightly over time.
- Stir well so vinegar is fully incorporated for proper thickening.
- For more tang, use lemon juice or add 1 extra tablespoon vinegar.
Nutrition
Pin our Easy Sour Cream Recipe on Pinterest:
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